Football fan's guide to Vancouver - what to do and where to drink for Fifa World Cup 2026

Vancouver is fast becoming a 'soccer city' with a MLS team playing at BC Place, a visit from well-known Wrexham AFC and the small matter of a World Cup – but what is is like for the fans?

Whoever says North America doesn't get 'football' needs to get down to The Pint two hours before Wrexham took on Vancouver WhiteCaps at BC Place. In front of 36,000. In a friendly.

Yes, that's a League One club playing an MLS team's second string on a pre-season tour – and people cared about it. A few years ago none of those words would ever have been put together in any sentence. Ever. But then there's the small matter of the popular documentary Welcome to Wrexham documentary made by Vancouver-native Ryan Reynolds. And just like that, Vancouver is a bona-fide 'soccer city'.

But all that is just a warm up. In 2026 the city will host World Cup games with people from all over the world flocking to Western Canada, with nearly a million expected to visit the region. So if it can please a few hundred Wrexham fans just happy to be there, what can it offer the rest of the footballing world?

The welcome to Wrexham (fans)

Yes, Wrexham fans travelled 4,548 miles to reach the seventh largest city in Canada and the few hundred who made the trip got a warm welcome as soon as we landed. From an evening with the Vancouver Welsh Society at Cambrian Hall on Watson Street to many meet ups in local bars and pubs (more of this below), Vancouver made us feel at home.

Some of us even ventured out for some culture and sightseeing (again, more below), but don't worry, the rest of us didn't judge them.

What you need to know (and do)

Well here's the tourist-approved blurb: "A city where mountains meet the ocean, Vancouver, will be hosting seven games during the FIFA World Cup 2026 – including five group stage matches and two knockout round matches. Renowned for its scenic beauty and urban landscape, Vancouver will showcase its passion for soccer and its capacity to host a world-class sporting event."

Here's the truth. Vancouver is a lovely city. Clean, walkable and full of interesting people and bits to see with a huge park and lots of great little neighbourhoods offering something different.

It's cheap too due to the current exchange rate (NOTE: This may change) and not as far from the UK as you may think with flight times coming in at around nine hours (and quicker on the way back).

And the best news? And it has beer...

Where to drink and be merry

What you mean watching Luke Shaw "style it out" makes you want a beer? Well luckily historic the Gas Town district has you covered.

Known for its whistling steam clock and mix of souvenir shops, indie art galleries and decor stores in Victorian buildings. But what it really does well is a combination of sports bars, tap rooms, cocktail bars and breweries.

We started at the SteamClock Brewpub with a bite to eat and a Gummy Sour Rotating tap (or three) before going on to the BlackFrog and the Blarney Stone for some committed pre-matchday drinking. A short walk up the street is the afore-mentioned The Pint.

In there fans from all over North America mixed, listened to Wrexham tunes and bought each other beers before the big match.

Where you need to go for the game

A short stumble from The Pint is the impressive BC Place, located in the heart of Vancouver. This stadium features a retractable roof which can reveal more than 7,500 square meters of open sky. And with a capacity of 54,000, it it has hosted matches for Canada's national teams, the MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS), the Canadian Football League side BC Lions (this is Grid Iron folks), as the Fifa Women's World Cup 2015 final.

It also hosts League One teams from North Wales mining towns whose friendlies beforehand used to be Nantwich Town. Nantwich is lovely this time of year, but it's no Vancouver. Yeah all that's impressive. But what's the view like – and how easy is it to get food and drink? Well, in any bowl-type ground you get a great view from most seats. And there are a host of kiosks selling beers, snacks and the obligatory foam hands.

Don't have a ticket for the match? The Fifa Fan Festival will be held at Hastings Park, also known as the PNE, overlooking the beautiful Burrard Inlet with views of the North Shore mountains. It will feature a new state-of-the-art amphitheater, if that's your thing.

Can't just watch football though... can we?

Well, no. And you shouldn't because there's a moose-tonne of stuff to do in and around Vancouver. Fancy a tour around the bay in a seaplane? You're not BA Baracus, so of course you do. You'll get to see BC Place from the air as well as the sprawling neighbourhoods including Kitsilano where Ryan Renyolds grew up.

Other things to do include jumping in a cab or bus across the Lions Gate Bridge - gifted to the city by the Guiness family - and pop on the cable car up Grouse Mountain to see bears Grinder and Coola and a questionable lumberjack show*.

The other must do includes the Capalino Bridge suspension over the river of the same name which leads to a rainforest canopy walk and nature trail. If you want something free then Stanley Park, Kits Beach and Granville Island as well as walking along 10km of seawall where you'll pass active film sets, coffee shops and dodge the cyclists (unless you are one).

*It's questionable as Johnny was robbed in his battle with fierce enemy Willie. We all know who really won that log speed climbing!

Book it

How to get there: Flights cost from £800 and take around nine hours from London

I stayed Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites by Marriott which is not too far to BC Place Stadium and all the main attractions in Downtown Vancouver